ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (15-30, 7-17 NSIC) was swept in their final scheduled home games of the season by Northern State (27-20-1, 12-11-1 NSIC). NSU took game one 11-4 and completed the sweep with 1-0 win in game two.

GAME 1: Northern State 11, Concordia-St. Paul 4
Concordia got off to a quick start to the game pouring in three runs in the home half of the first. Carlie Hart led off with a double and then advanced to third on a ground out. Justine Schattner would draw a walk to put runners on the corners and only one out.

Liz Jarosz continued to perform at the plate as she drove Hart home and moved Schattner to third with a RBI double giving CSP an early 1-0 lead. Haley Schanks would follow with a RBI single and then Jarosz would score on a sacrifice bunt by Linzy Heim to make it a 3-0 CSP lead.

From there thought it was all Northern State. Lauren Kunz would make it a one run game in the second inning as smashed a 2-run home run to left center field. In the third, NSU would load the bases with no outs before Jamie Fischer drove in the tying run with a RBI single. Katie Dawson would break the tie in the following at bat with a two RBI single giving the Wolves a 5-3 lead.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, Northern State would make it an 8-3 lead in the fifth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Lauren Kunz would hit her second home run of the day to make it a five run game.

The Wolves would match their three runs in fifth with three more runs in the sixth. Kaitlyn King would single up the middle scoring Courtney Sjervan from third. Kunz would then hit a deep sacrifice fly adding another run and then Katie Dawson would score on a fielding error two batters later to make it an 11-3 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth Jarosz would lead off the inning with a solo home run to make it an 11-4 game. The home run is her 14^th of the season and brings her within five of tying the programs single season record of 19. Jarosz needs four more home runs to tie the career-record of 36.

The seventh was scoreless for both teams and CSP put runners on the first and second with one out but some solid defense by Wolves prevented any comeback attempt sealing the 11-4 win.

Jamie Fischer (11-8) went the distance for the win allowing six hits and four runs. Fischer had retired 11 straight batters midway through the game. Heim (9-13) took the loss for CSP pitching six and a third surrendering 11 hits, eight runs and striking out one.

Jarosz led the way going 2-4 at the plate with a home run and a double. Hart, Schanks, and Heim each finished with a hit in the loss.

Jamie Fischer also performed well at the plate for NSU as she led the team with three hits. Shayla Steinley, Kaitlyn King, and Lauren Kunz all finished with a pair of hits in the win. Kunz led the team with two home runs and six RBI.
 
GAME 2: Northern State 1, Concordia-St. Paul 0
It was a defensive battle for the first four innings between the Golden Bears and Wolves. Samantha Sullivan was in control of her pitches allowing only three hits through four innings of play and striking out a three.

Missy Elkins also pitched well to start the game for NSU striking out four through four innings while allowing only five hits.

The Golden Bears put runners in scoring position in the first and fourth inning but could not bring them home. Justine Schattner recorded two singles in her first two at bats in the low hitting start to the game.

Northern State did not get a runner in scoring position until the fifth inning and they capitalized with the opportunity. With two outs, Jenna Helgeson would single into right field allowing MacKenzie Thielen to score from second, giving NSU a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth CSP had a prime opportunity to tie or take the lead as Sarah Kivisto led off the inning with a double and hen Carlie Hart drew a walk with no outs. However, the pitching of Elkins would get the Wolves out of the jam as she forced a ground out and two pop outs hold their 1-0 lead.

In the sixth, Emily Shinn was robbed of an extra base hit with a runner on first after Jenna Helgeson made an impressive on the run catch.

Sullivan retired Wolves in order in the top of the seventh keeping it at a one run game. Sarah Kivisto led off the home half of the seventh with a single. Carlie Hart would follow with a double down the left field line moving Kivisto to third with no outs.

After Langevin grounded out keeping runners on second and third, Justine Schattner would line out to shallow right field and Kivisto would try to tag from third, but a good throw by Ashley Clapp would get her out at home on a close call to end the game giving Northern State the win and the sweep.

Sullivan (6-13) took the tough loss after pitching a very impressive game. She pitched all seven innings, allowed five hits and struck out five. She did not allow an earned run as the one run scored in the game was ruled unearned.

Elkins (12-10) came away with the win for NSU also pitching the entire game, allowing eight hits, no runs and striking out four.

Schattner and Shinn led Concordia with two hits apiece in the loss. Hart, Shinn and Kivisto all recorded one double in the loss. Katelynn Dilts paced the Wolves with two hits in the win.
 
Concordia travels to Winona State on Wednesday, April 26 and then travels up to North Dakota on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 to take on Minot State and U-Mary, respectively.